QotD: Education, Occupation

What was your major or field of study in college? Did you wind up working in that field or using that degree? If not, what field have you wound up in? 
Submitted by sneuf. 

I was an English major in college.  I picked it because it was easiest for me to earn a B without trying too hard.  I also enjoy writing, and the college I chose to go to didn’t have a creative writing program, so I picked the thing closest to it.  As an undergrad, I operated on the philosophy that it was best to get the best grade possible for the least amount of work.  When I started the Master’s program, however, I wouldn’t settle for anything less than an A.  I worked damn hard for my degree and my pretty GPA (although I did get two A- which dropped it down a bit), and I’m not too shy to say that I’m damn proud of that accomplishment.

In retrospect, I realize I probably should have gone to school at the place at which I’m currently working.  They actually have a program for Creative Writing.  Or at least I could have gotten my MFA here instead of an MA.  But I guess in the grand scheme of things, an MA in English is more applicable in today’s job field than an MFA in creative writing, even if it may not be as valuable personally.

If I had things to do over again, I would probably double major in photography and English, do some internships and get myself into something more creative.  I won’t say that my current job doesn’t use my English skills, but it  uses them rarely.  I’m only used to, say, check the grammar on some posting.  The rest of it involves checking ledgers and processing paperwork.

The more and more I think about things, I realize that I most likely am not meant to work for an institution.  I would love to start my own business, perhaps a photography studio, if it wasn’t for the whole having to run my own business part.  I hate math and accounting.  I just want to be creative without having to deal with all the red tape.

I’m seriously considering getting a second job during the summer at a photography studio to see if that is something I’d like to do.  Since I have studio photography coming up next in my classes, I might be able to get a job on the weekends.  Plus, the extra money would help me in buying some new photography equipment.  And it’d look good on a resume.  All I know is I can’t continue doing the same thing I’m doing now.  It’s fine to pay the bills at the moment, but in the long run, I think I’d be very unhappy not doing something that feels creative and free.

-K.